by Roberta Murphy

Much has been written and said about Microsoft’s new surface computing technology.

It is the WOW technology of the year. Sooner than many of us thought possible, this technology will first become a defining feature in luxury homes, and as adoption increases and prices drop, it will likely appear as a builder option in many tract subdivisions.

Imagine interactive coffee tables that wirelessly download photos from your digital camera. Or how about kitchen counters that come to life with not only recipes and schedules–but may also allow you to order groceries, pizzas or Chinese carry-out and pay for it all by laying your credit card on the counter.

Expect to see early adoption of this technology not in luxury homes, but in bars and restaurants.

The possibilities will stagger the imagination.

by Roberta Murphy

Leave it to Italian designers to create the ultimate in luxury rocks for exterior lightscaping.

These remarkable lighted rocks by Oluce look as if they might have been swiped from the lawn of a distant planet. In reality, though, they were created by Italian designers Marta Laudani and Marco Romanelli with Massimo Noceto. Made from weather-tested polyethelene, these lighted Oluce stones glow with the aid of a screw-in fluorescent bulb.

Dont expect to find these luxe rocks in your local hardware or lighting store though. They are available by special order and then only in œlarge quantities whatever that means. The good news? The price has just been reduced from $513.50 to just $316.00 each. Such a deal!

I hope to seem some of these luminous beauties in San Diego’s luxury homes before too long.

For additional information, you may call ylighting at 866.428.9289 (This is an unpaid, unexpected and unsolicited commercial)

I wonder if these lighted rocks would attract bugs???

Other fun and imaginative luxuries for the luxury home:

D. Porthault Sheets and Linens

The Luxury Blingdex

The Intuitive Luxury Home

As well as other recent luxury reads:

The Snoring Room
The Self Service Spa (Do it at home?)
Long-Lasting Roses
Induction-Cooktop for the Luxury Kitchen
Ultimate Phone for the Luxury Bath
How to Hide the Bedroom TV
Switchable Mirror Glass Windows
SONOS: The Ultimate Sound System
Haute Refrigerators for Cool Kitchens?
The Overflowing Infinity Tub
Wine Storage for Oenophiles
The Illuminated Bathtub

by Roberta Murphy

Imagine a world uplugged!

That future has quietly arrived with the first successful resonant transfer of wireless power over a span of seven feet and carrying enough power to brighten a 60W light bulb.

This humble beginning leads ambitious minds to think of a luxurious home where cell phones, laptop computers, lamps, Roombas and even hair dryers would need no cords to operate.

The Genius behind this exciting development is a wizardy team of scientists from MITs Department of Physics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies.

They call this concept œWiTricity, which should not be confused with radio waves, which transmits information wirelessly and in all directions. WiTricity, on the other hand, involves using coupled resonant objects. In other words (and as I understand it), the transmitter and the receiver would be operating on the same resonant frequency which would not interfere with other wireless devices.

This might also be what separates it from the Tesla Effect, which allows farmers, for example, to gather electricity via coils of wire laid beneath power transmission lines on their property.

Sometimes astounding discoveries have simple beginnings. The initial inspiration for this development came several years ago when MIT Professor Marin Soljacic grew tired of hearing his phone beeping to let him know he had forgotten to charge it and began to wonder about the possibility of a self-charging cell phone.

And isnt that a frustration we have all experienced?

It is fun to imagine the wireless possibilities in homes of the future–and the technology would likely be seen first in the top end luxury home market (Bill Gates or Larry Ellison’s homes perhaps?)
A tip of the top hat to Bob Nagel for the find and to PhysOrg for the reporting.

by Roberta Murphy

Luxury is booming and Wall Street is keeping a keen eye on how the rich are spending their wealth. And what better way to measure that hedonism than by creating a variety of indexes that track the shopping of the ultra-rich? The demand for four-figure handbags, five-figure baubles, six-figure cars, luxury resorts and travel, insurable art and heady wines has created a new and trackable economy for the very wealthy.

What intrigues investors is how well the carriage trade merchants are faring. This is mostly due to the fact that the rich are getting richer and their numbers on a global basis are growing along with their spending habits. A look at some of these uber-wealth tracking indexes reveals more than a little about the favored products and shopping stops of the rich. For example, sales at Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys New York are increasing at twice the level of the retail sector as a whole. Some of the indexes and the luxury companies they track include:

• Merrill Lynch tracks a basket of companies including BMW, Porsche, Bulgari, Coach, Tiffany Jewelers, auctioneer Sothebys and the private banking firm Julius Baer. The performance? Up 23 percent in 2005 and 12.5 percent in 2006. This compares to the respective 14 and 7 percent for global consumer stock during the same periods.
• Citibanks Plutonomy Index tracks world spending of the worlds growing class of plutocrats. This index mirrors much of Merrills, but also includes Japans highly regarded Shinwa Art Auction and Hong Kongs Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. We might call this one the œruler of wealth.
• Deutsche Borse introduced its own World Luxury Index earlier this year. It tracks Bulgari, Sothebys, Hermes International and requires that the companies it tracks generate at least 50 percent of its income from luxury spending.

What is the appeal of these indexes? Some surmise that those who cant afford the lifestyle of the ultra-wealthy can still be œin the money by investing in so-called luxury stocks. Finding true luxury stocks can be a difficult task, though. Many of these high end brands are now part of larger conglomerates. And because publicly-traded pure luxe companies are becoming so rare, many of the indexes are including brands such as Nike, Puma, Gap Stores, Harley Davidson and other popular products in their mix.

The reason for this interest is obvious. The rich are getting richer and are far more numerous. The number of millionaires in the US has more than doubled since 1995 and total wealth held by the top 1 percent has increased by more than 50 percent since 1998 (much due to real estate appreciation, Im sure). It should come as no surprise that luxury spending has kept pace with the soaring incomes and wealth at the top rung of of the economic ladder. And according to a Citigroup study, the top 20 percent of American earners are responsible for between 37 and 70 percent of total consumption.

And what is fueling this consumption? Its the desire to have the finest in homes, travel, dining, dress, art and social connections, according to Margaret Mager with Goldman Sachs High-End Consumer Index. œToday the good life is defines by the assets you have, she said.

Tip of the top hat to Robert Frank and The Wall Street Journal Wealth Report

by Roberta Murphy

Peering into the future, it is nice to imagine a home that is smart in every sense–and inviting to all.

Sunset Magazine and Popular Science recently team-conceived the Idea House, the House of Innovation , in Alamo, California. This intelligent $5 + million home provides a trajectory of design and technologies that will end up in homes of tomorrow. It is loaded with sustainable materials and innovative ideas. This Idea House has drywall that is paperless and prefinished plank hardwood flooring that locks into place for fast, glueless and nail-free installation.

What do we like best?

• Air quality filtration system systems that filter particles down to one micron.
• Windows that turn translucent with the flip of a switch.
• Wine vault that maintains a bar-scanned inventory of both wines stored and wines comsumed.
• Family Center (just off the kitchen) with informal dining table invites gatherings, homework, projects and snacks.
• Kitchen as a news-gathering center and meeting spot. Web-accessed security monitoring views the entrance path, pool and patio areas. There is a family computer in the corner and a dedicated counter-mounted computer dedicated to foods.ot
• Robotics that vacuum the carpeting, mop the floors and mow the lawn. (Can you say FUN???)

Trends in decor?

• As a counter-balance to the high tech functionality of the home, nature inspired hues dominate throughout. Look for colors ranging from tawny summer yellows to taupey jute to deep sunset purple.
• A return to dining rooms that are visually separated from the kitchen, tied together by dark hand-hewn floors.
• Bringing the outside in and vice versa. Look for enormous glass doors that slide inconspicuously into the wall, turning the great room into an extension of the rear garden. The garden, in turn, offers casual seating and additional room for entertaining.
• In the master suite, look for vanity mirrors mounted above translucent windows to provide for private natural lighting.

It is a worthwhile journey to go through both sites and see for yourself this remarkable home! Unfortunately, it is no longer for sale and has been sold. It was listed by Peggy Cortez with Alain Pinel Realtors and closed just before Thanksgiving to an undisclosed buyer. The 6500 square foot luxury home was offered at a price close to $5.3 million and exchanged hands for an amount reported by the agent to be close to the asking price.

by: Roberta Murphy

in the luxury of your own bed and awakening to blue skies and scattered clouds.

Sounds like heaven to me.

And it might be a reality for a luxury camper, or someone clever enough to commission magical artwork from a talented artist such as Rip Read.

Sleeping under the stars is now a possibility because StarMurals Startist, Rip Read, has returned to Southern California from his sojourn in Cabo San Lucas. The only artist in the world creating these amazing effects, Rip has now introduced his new Day & Night murals that are an ideal enhancement to the sleeping area(s) of the luxury home, yacht or one-of-a-kind luxury passenger jet. Or how about bed and breakfasts, childrens rooms and living areas? The possibilities are limitless.

The Day & Night Sky is Rips original design: A beautiful blue sky and clouds by day that transforms to a clear desert or mountain starlit sky that glows subtly all night. The stars are invisible by day (just like the real thing), and then come to life at night with thousands of hand painted stars that bear Rips signature twinkling and movement effects.

All of Rip Reads starry skies have this element of œmovement resulting from his five-dimensional painting process. The results allow one to rest in bed and have that delicious sense that the ceiling has been removed revealing a clear and starry night sky beyond.

Rip Read is a self-taught artist and former entertainer. His enduring fascination with astronomy and art and extensive research into painting technologies, have resulted in a remarkable technique and process that accurately mimics the real night sky as it might be seen in ideal conditions.

Rip Read can be reached, seen and heard via his website or:

Ofc: 310.691.2359
Cell: 310.498.5778
Email: rip@starmurals.com

For additional reading about terrific products, ideas and luxury home finishes, read:

Gotta-Haves for Luxury Homes
The Snoring Room
The Cooktop That Cannot be Ignored
Totally Hide the Bedroom TV
Switchable Mirror Glass Windows
Sonos: The Expandable Sound System
Haute Refrigerators for Cool Kitchens
The Venetian Plaster Master
What is a Luxury Home?

by Roberta Murphy

For some reason, crystal chandeliers are dirt magnets. They sparkle like nothing else when clean and look like clouded glass when soiled (which occurs all too soon after cleaning).

Lets face it, crystal chandelier-cleaning is a drippy, arm-tiring and time-consuming chore, no matter who performs the task.

How about just tossing your Swarovski or Strass crystal chandelier into the dishwasher? It appears this fantasy is now a reality, thanks to the genius of Schonbek and their remarkable Da Vinci crystal masterpieces. Radiating remarkable brilliance, thousands of octagonal crystals in various sizes go into each chandelier, which is braced with stainless steel. And yes, the crystals are made by Swarovski and Strass.

To clean, just put into the dishwasher, and at the end of the cleaning cycle, a brilliant and sparkling chandelier emerges. Smaller units can be cleaned in one cycle. The cleaning of larger chandeliers may need to be dispersed over several cycles. I would assume that the round crystal œshell is then mounted over the electrical assembly.

Nice!

Now if only the task of handwashing crystal glasses could also endure such easy automated cleaning, without turning them into cloudy-looking glass.

For other luxury home products and enhancements, read:

BluWood: No More House of Blues?
Gotta-Haves for Luxury Homes
The Cooktop That Cannot Be Ignored
Ultimate Phone for the Luxury Bath
The Illuminated Bath Tub
FAO Schwarz Moving into Real Estate
Switchable Mirror Glass Windows

by Roberta Murphy

I have always justified my preference for fine bed linens by considering the percentage of ones life spent between them. And though I have never slept on D. Porthaults sheets, they remain on my list of wanna-trys. And who wouldnt want to luxuriate on fine, hand-finished sheets that start at around $1100 for a king set with two shams?

Celebrities, royalty and business barons happily shell out $4600 for a king set of D. Porthaults colorful silky sheets or even more for the cherished Trousseau Lace set. The Porthault line doesnt end in the boudoir or bedroom, either. Jackie Kennedy loved their linens and treasured their tablecloths and napkins (pictured at right).

Though not well-known outside the carriage trade, Porthault linens have been crafted in France since the mid-1930s. Late last year and as reported by Business Week Online, Porthault was acquired by Brazos Europe, a private equity firm based in Washington DC. These former associates of Texas zillionnaire Robert M. Bass have stepped out of the oil and land focus and have moved their sights to the luxury market, with major emphasis on all things French.

Two Brazos principals, Bernard J. Carl and Shannon Fairbanks, are reported to be spending around $25 million to acquire and grow this top-shelf linen crafter and intend to acquire other French artisanal firms as well. The reason for the luxury buying binge has much to do with the globally expanding market for luxurious goods and a global love of Euro luxury.

Finally, it may surprise some that Porthault bottom sheets, in the European tradition, are flat. No fitted sheets yet.

by Roberta Murphy

The Luxury Blog Directory (or L-List), started by the inimitable Paul Johnson, continues to grow and re-seed itself in separate locations. I have tried to pull the listings together once again. This time, to make sure all are included, it might be wise to make sure your luxury blog is included below and if its not, add it (as long as it is luxury-oriented).

And if there are any we have missed, please add to the list.

I spoke with Craig Schiller, Chicagos premier home stager this morning and knew immediately we would have to add his luxey blog to the list! Moreover, he will be reviewing these sites and adding a luxury blogroll to his site.

Thanks, Paul, for the initiative!

A Luxury Travel Blog
B Glam
Blavish
Blog-Tique
Born Rich
Deluxe Blog.it
DiamondVues
EliteChoice
eLuxury
Engadget
Eslux
Foodaholic
Glenn OBriens Style
Good Luck Deluxe
GourmetStation
Happy Hotelier
High Chic
I Love Bling
Janus Thinking
Just Luxe
Living the Luxe Life
Loja de Luxo
Lussorian
Luxist
Luxe Life International
LuxLuv
Luxury Clues
Luxury.fr
Luxury Home Digest
Luxury Housing Trends
Luxury Launches
Luxury Portfolio
Luxury Reviewer
Luxury Web
Luxus.fr
My Luxury Place
Real Estaging
Restaurant Girl
Shiny Shiny
Social Diva
Sybarites
Tango Diva
The Cool Hunter
The Delicious Life
The Diamond Blog
The Informed Traveler
The Lobby
Vagablond
Vinography
Wine Camp Blog
Wine Goddess

by Roberta Murphy

What if there were a wood treatment that not only disgusted termites, but repelled mold and fungus as well? This dream is now a reality at least for those fortunate custom home builders and remodelers who are able to demand their choice in wood.

Though it makes for colorful framing (think Smurf blue), Bluwood has captured the interest of homeowners who wish to avoid the hazards of mold and the hassles of termites.

Manufactured by WoodSmart Solutions, the BluWood product is the result of natural wood being treated with a proprietary blue chemical solution that offers a lifetime limited and transferable warranty against œcontaminated or structural damage caused by mold fungus growth on the cured surface of the film, rot fungi or wood ingesting insects (including subterranean or Famosan termites) or carpenter ants, due to failure of Bluwoods two-part system.

Though currently used primarily in the luxury and custom home market, this product would seem to be an ideal solution for building in mold-prone areas like New Orleans, Houston, Florida and other high-humidity areas. Water leaks, though, can cause mold problems just about anywhere including my own perfect hometown.

Termites, though? They are just about everywhere including arid San Diego. And as I consider the possibilities of and benefits of œgoing blue, I am considering rebuilding our infected patio cover with BluWood.

And I guess the perfect home of tomorrow will be not only green, but blue as well!